What's the difference between using a special swim shirt or wearing a lycra shirt for swimming?

I try to cover up when I'm in the sun. I find that the best way to protect my skin if I'm in an uncovered pool is to wear a swim shirt over my bathing suit. However, the special swim shirts are expensive-will a regular tight fitting lycra shirt work as well? If not, why? Thank you.

I used to be a swim instructor, and since the water in the indoor pools can be really cold I always wore swim shirts to try to stay warm. The Lycra shirts are fine if you don't swim a whole lot and you wash them as soon as you get out. Otherwise the chemicals in the pool will eat at the elastic and it won't last for very long. The actual swim shirts are made of a different material that withstand the chemicals better and last a lot longer. I learned this the hard way! My lycra swim suits and shirts lasted me 3 or 4 months tops, but the more expensive swim ones lasted me over a year!

yes its good, lycra is the best

It should be just as good. The swim shirts are for style and they also dry faster. I usually burn very easy and I tend to wear whatever I have.